Pancocojams showcases the music, dances, language practices, and customs of African Americans and of other people of Black descent throughout the world.

Translate

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Black Churches Sing Old Dr. Watts Hymns

Edited by Azizi Powell

Go Down Moses - Mt Do Well

Uploaded by Hymnchoir on Aug 8, 2009

This post showcases five selected videos of Black churches singing Dr. Watts hymns. Two videos of the same song are provided for contrast. The lyrics for two of these featured songs are also included in this post.

The content of this post is presented for educational, historical, folkloric, entertainment, religious, and aesthetic purposes.

My thanks to persons shown in those videos and thanks to the uploaders of these videos.

FEATURED VIDEOS
Video #1: Go Down Moses - Mt Do Well
This video is presented at the top of this page.

"Recorded by RAM and KB in March 2001 at Mt. Do Well Baptist Church in McConnells, SC. Go to www.hymnchoir.org"

-snip-

The lyrics for this version of "Go Down Moses" are posted below.

****
Video #2: I Love The Lord, He Heard My Cry

Uploaded by StampsMedia on Mar 1, 2011

Rev. Alphonso Bowens performs the classic call & response song, " I Love The Lord He Heard My Cry" filmed and recorded live in Greensboro, Alabama

The song Lord I Would Come to Thee as styled in this video is affectionately called within the African-American Church an Old Dr. Watts hymn. Old Dr. Watts hymns are sung in a slow, ornamental style, with each line being lined out by a leader before it is sung by the congregation.

Old Dr. Watts refers to Isaac Watts, an early 19th century English composer. Although these type hymns are fading from use in modern church services, Old Dr. Watts hymns enjoy a special place in the heart of the African-American church. Mourners Bench Records through its upcoming release Take Me Back to the Old Landmark hopes to preserve this part of the African-American heritage for future generations

Go down Moses
Way down in Egypt land
You tell ol’ pharoah that I said to
Let my people go.

Let my people go
Let my people go
You tell ol’ pharoah that I said to
Let my people go
I’m going down to the river
I’m gonna stick my sword in the sand
I’m gonna shout my troubles all over
I done made it to the promised land
Let my people go
Let my people go
You tell ol’ pharoah that I said to
Let my people go
Would not be a sinner
I’ll tell you the reason why
I’m afraid my Lord would call me
I wouldn’t be ready to die.

Let my people go
Let my people go
You tell ol’ pharoah that I said to
Let my people go
Some say give me silver
Some say give me gold
But I say give me Jesus
To save my dying soul.
Let my people go
Let my people go
You tell ol’ pharoah that I said to
Let my people go
Weep like a willow
You can moan like a dove
But you can’t get to heaven
Lest you go by love.

I came to Jesus as I was
Weary worn and sad.
I found in Him a resting place.
And He has made me glad.

-snip-
Editor:
This version combines floating verses from African American spirituals with "standard" verses from Dr. Watts hymns.

it 5:01 in the morning and . dr.watts dropped in my sprit and i wondered who was this person . i can remember singing a few to my babies when they wouldn't go to sleep if it wasn't for Jesus i couldn't stand the the storm.and a charge to keep i have and a God to glorify. my husband once said to me dr. watts was just the style in song. i wish he was still living so could show him your site

Followers

Search This Blog

Blog Archive

About Me

I'm an African American mother, grandmother, & retired human services administrator. For more than forty years I have shared adapted West African stories with audiences in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area.
I have four blogspots: pancocojams, zumalayah, cocojams2, and .Civil Rights Songs. Much of the content of these blogs were previously found on my cocojams and jambalayah cultural websites. I curate all of these blogs on a voluntary basis.
Each of these blogs have the primary goal of raising awareness about cultural aspects of African American culture and of other Black cultures throughout the world, particularly in regards to music & dance traditions.
Viewer comments are welcome on my blogspots.